Posted on September 10 by Jennifer Avventura

Pimping a fellow Canadians free book! Only two days to download, get it while you can. I’ve just downloaded mine and am looking forward to digging into it! Thank you Mr. Hook!

The cyber-flood gates have opened and now (“now” meaning 12:01 a.m. Sept. 10 – 12:00 a.m September 11) my “love letter” to the Niagara Falls hospitality industry is free to anyone with the means to download it.

Even the douchebags.

In fact, they should download multiple copies; after all, they owe me for the last fifteen years! But right now, my gentle readers, you’re probably thinking about something else.

The guys are thinking, “Does reading Fifty Shades of Grey automatically make me gay?”
The girls are thinking, “Will Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson patch things up in time for the premiere of the nextTwilightfilm?”

But after those thoughts have run their course, you’ll all be thinking, “Why is The Hook giving his book away? Has he finally snapped after slugging one laundry basket too many for some ungrateful douche-monkey?” While I will no doubt eventually snap, that day…

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The Raw Reality of Expat Life in Small Town Sardinia

Posted on August 28 by Jennifer Avventura

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So, you want to live the dolce vita in a small town in Sardinia? Eat handcrafted gelato in the middle of an August heat-wave and sail away on the Mediterranean Sea forgetting reality exists?

Sounds pretty awesome, right?

La dolce vita or the sweet life has a very colourful, sour inside. In this post I will step out of my comfort zone, to show to you – the endless Italian dreamer the sour side to paradise.

There are no beautiful photos of pristine perfect beaches or snow-capped mountains or even ancient alleys that lead to paradise. No, this post is raw facts about living and working in a small town in Sardinia, Italy.

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The Monday Farmers Market | Sardinia, Italy

Posted on August 13 by Jennifer Avventura

Welcome to the Monday Farmers Market.

It’s my favourite time of week, Monday Market Day! It’s where I load up on local fruit, vegetables, cheese, rice and local salami. I’ve been going to the same vendors for years; we joke, exchange recipes, and banter on about the usual, weather. It’s a wonderful experience and I enjoy speaking with the local people, they have taught me so much about their culture, land and traditions, all I have to do is buy their fruit. It’s an intellectual exchange of homemade goodness.

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Le Grand Bleu | The Super Mega Yacht

Posted on August 13 by Jennifer Avventura

One of the world’s largest, super-mega yachts, Le Grand Bleu was seen floating off the north-west coast of Sardinia, Italy on August 12, 2012.

She’s big, she’s beautiful and she is estimated to be worth $85-$90 million! I was there to capture her in all her splendid, expensive glory. I couldn’t help but stare at this beautiful beast silently floating in the Bay of Asinara (Donkey Bay) for the entire three hours we were at the beach.

Le Grand Bleu is a 370-foot mega yacht, launched in 2000 and originally owned by American business person John McCaw Jr.

In 2002 the McCaw family sold Le Grand Bleu to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. Roman had le grand bleu lengthened (yes lengthened! cause you know 370-feet is just too small) and refitted with a 16-foot swim platform! Snap!

There is very little known on the interior of the yacht for privacy reasons. However, what we do know is this: a 74-foot sailboat AND a 67-foot speed boat are stored on deck, for emergencies, of course. As well as a personal helicopter, for those shopping trips to Costa Smeralda. Le Grand Bleu has a crew of 50.

Click here to read my post from July 29th’s sighting of Le Grand Bleu.

What method of transportation do you take to work?

The Daily Groceries | Sardinia, Italy

Posted on August 9 by Jennifer Avventura

At the beginning of June, I wrote a post about the cost of living in Sardinia, Italy where I have listed the cost of internet, electricity, gas, water, eating out and cell phone bills.

This morning I did a little shopping and by little, I mean very little, just the necessities to get though the next few days plus a few cleaning products.

A grand total of €37,08 or $45.95 Canadian dollars.

The most expensive items on my list:

4 Yogurt €2,98 and freshly made hamburgers – €2,46.

The cheapest items:

Canned chickpeas and canned lentils – €0,55.

I think it’s rather expensive but that comes with island life.

Curious to see what the Daily Groceries cost in China? Check out my blogger friend – The World According to Woman – Come grocery shopping with woman.

How does it compare to where you live?

The Case of the Mysterious Canadian Ensign Lost & Found in Sardinia

Posted on August 5 by Jennifer Avventura

In life, I believe everything happens for a reason.

Why did a brand new, ensign of Canada land in my hands yesterday morning? Coincidence? Fate? A message in a ~~bottle~~ ensign? Or just the sweet generosity of the man who found it?

Our conversation went something like this:

The Italian Version

Sweet Man – Boungirono. Ho trovato una bandiera canadese e pensato a te, ti piace?
Me – Oh, buongiorno. Ma, hai trovato una bandiera canadese? Dove?
Sweet Man – In Costa Paradiso. Qualcuno l’ha buttato via.
Me – Perché qualcuno dovrebbe buttarlo fuori? Non e giusto.
Sweet Man – Non lo so, ma vuoi?
Me – Ma, certo. Grazie.
Sweet Man – Io te lo darò a te ora.
Me – Sei molto gentile. Grazie.

English Version

Sweet Man – Good Morning. I found a Canadian flag and thought of you. Would you like it?
Me – Oh, good morning. But, you found a Canadian flag? Where?
Sweet Man – In Costa Paradiso. Someone threw it out.
Me – Why would someone throw it out? It’s not right.
Sweet Man – I don’t know, but do you want it?
Me – But, certainly. Thank you.
Sweet Man – I will give it to you now.
Me – You are very kind. Thank you.

And with that, I am now the owner of a brand spanking new Canadian ensign, for a boat that I don’t have.

Did you know?

To sail from Toronto, Canada to Costa Paradiso, Sardinia, Italy with a pit-stop in Gibraltar Continue reading →

Just Me, My Yacht & Helicopter | Le Grand Bleu

Posted on July 29 by Jennifer Avventura

It was a wonderful hazy day in Isola Rossa yesterday and I decided to take my yacht to the beach, along with my helicopter because you just never know.

It was a hazy, lazy day on the beach and this was the best photo I could snap of this super yacht.

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Unpolluted Blue Sardinia

Gallery

Posted on July 26 by Jennifer Avventura

This gallery contains 7 photos.

What do you do to help keep our world blue? **With the exception of the last photo and a slight crop, these photos are unedited.

The Crazy Bat House of Sardegna

Posted on July 18 by Jennifer Avventura

Two months ago a bat entered the house and has taken residence ever since. She swoops, squeaks and flies circles around our heads, nightly.

She came crashing down while we were having a dinner party, much to the amusement of our party guests, I’m sure! My husband quickly picked her up with a tea towel and put her outside.

I thought that was the last, of the crazy bat house.

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